Ear Pad Recess for Eyewear Seal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ear pads in headsets are uncomfortable for users wearing eyewear due to the rigid arms of glasses being urged against the head, and they break the seal with the head, degrading sound attenuation.
Innovation Solution
The design of ear pads with an annular body featuring a recess in the superior medial portion to accommodate eyewear temples, maintaining contact with the head and using an annular wall with varying thickness for comfort and sound attenuation, optionally with adhesive or mechanical fasteners for attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ear pads are made large enough to fit around ears and engage the head, then universal fit and comfort are improved, but discomfort for users wearing eyewear increases and the seal is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The ear pad is divided into distinct functional zones: a superior portion that contacts the head for seal formation, and an inferior portion with a recess that accommodates eyewear temples. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between universal fit and comfort for eyewear users.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear pad features varying thicknesses in different regions: the superior portion has a first thickness optimized for head contact and seal formation, while the inferior portion has a second thickness that creates a recess for eyewear accommodation. This local differentiation of properties allows the same ear pad to simultaneously achieve universal fit and accommodate eyewear users comfortably.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ear pads are made large enough to fit around ears, then universal fit is improved, but sound attenuation function degrades due to seal breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The ear pad is segmented into a superior portion that maintains head contact for seal formation and an inferior portion with a recess that accommodates eyewear. This segmentation ensures that the superior portion can maintain the necessary seal for sound attenuation while the inferior portion accommodates eyewear without compromising the seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear pad has different thickness characteristics in different regions: the superior portion has sufficient thickness to maintain seal contact with the head for effective sound attenuation, while the inferior portion has reduced thickness to create accommodation space for eyewear temples without breaking the seal.
3Ease of manufacture
If the annular wall has uniform thickness, then manufacturing is simplified, but comfort and sound attenuation performance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The annular wall is designed with non-uniform thickness: a first thickness in the superior portion for optimal head contact and seal formation, and a second thickness in the inferior portion to create the recess for eyewear accommodation. This local differentiation enhances both comfort and sound attenuation performance while remaining manufacturable through standard molding techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A novel ear pad includes a lateral surface and a medial surface. The lateral surface is adapted to be coupled to a headset and the medial surface includes a recess that accommodates the passage of an article between the ear pad and a user's head. In a particular embodiment, the recess is contoured to receive an eyeglass temple. In another embodiment, an ear pad includes an annular wall having an inferior portion and a superior portion wherein the wall thickness of the inferior portion is greater than the wall thickness of the superior portion.